Family Au Pair Killed Man Even Though Widower Took Blame In Fairfax County: Police

A Virginia family's nanny has been charged with killing a man in their home last February, even though the family's husband and father initially took the blame for the shooting in a 9-1-1 call, authorities said.

Juliana Peres Magalhaes.
Photo Credit: *Fairfax County PD*

Cecilia Levine

10/19/2023 11:27 a.m.

Juliana Peres Magalhaes, 23, of Reston, is believed to have shot Joseph Ryan, 39, of Springfield, in the Banfield family's home on the 13200 block of Stable Brook Way in Herndon, the morning of Feb. 24, county police said.

Christine Banfield, 37, of Herndon, died after being found with stab wounds in an upstairs bedroom, police said. Peres Magalhaes was not charged with Banfield's death.

Around 8 that morning, Peres Magalhaes called police saying her friend was hurt. Then Banfield's husband got on the line and said that he had shot an unknown man who entered his home and stabbed a woman.

According to the Washington Post, Ryan was accused of stabbing Banfield, whose husband initially took the blame for the shooting.

Peres Magalhaes has been charged with Second Degree Murder and is being held at the Adult Detention Center on no bond.

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